WHAT ARE OUR CONTRA DANCES LIKE?
Contra dance is an accessible form of community dance- there is no fancy footwork and the caller tells you exactly what to do. There is a high level of interaction: the joy of contra is felt in the “elastic connection” between you and your fellow dancers. You will join hands with many other smiling people as you travel in circles, zig-zags, and figure 8’s – the movement never stops and the live music carries you along.
DANCING WITH OTHERS
Contra is a very social style of dance: You will pair up with other people throughout the evening – your “dance partner” is a temporary friend with whom you travel down the dance line. As you travel along, you interact with many other people in a single dance.
You do not need to bring a partner to our dances – people pair up spontaneously for each new dance. There is no “lead” and “follow” – We use the terms Larks & Ravens to differentiate our two slightly different dance roles. We encourage everyone to dance with everyone else, regardless of level of experience, gender, age, or any other factor. The goal is to create community and enjoy connecting with other humans!
A typical interaction (figure) is to join right hands with your dance partner, and walk ’round each other face-to-face. Another typical figure is to take two hands and step towards each other and away from each other twice. Towards the end of the evening, partners may also spin around together (swinging) – it’s optional to stay for these more advanced dances.
BEGINNERS & NON-DANCERS ARE WELCOME
No experience is needed, but beginners must take part in our 7:15 orientation.
Non-dancers are also welcome at our events! – We have a cozy lounge with a great view of the dance floor – bring your knitting, school work, or favourite book, and enjoy the live music and the energy and laughter of the dancers.
ALL THE NITTY GRITTY DETAILS
LOCATION:
All Nations Church – 2535 Robie at Charles – entrance up the wooden ramp on Robie St.
SCHEDULE
7:00pm Doors open – pay your admission fee and hang up your coat
7:15 Beginner orientation — required if you are new to our group.
7:30 Dancing starts: spiral dance, mixer dance, scatter dance – short break
8:15(ish) We introduce contra lines, and dance our first“real” contra dance.
8:30(ish) We are increasing the difficulty, introducing new figures with each dance.
If you are an experienced dancer who prefers to avoid the introductory stuff, aim to come around 8:30, and you’ll be ready to jump in our more involved dances.
After 9:30pm: we call more difficult dances with minimal teaching. Beginners are welcome to try these dances, but will dance in a separate line from experienced dancers.
The dancing ends at 10:15pm.
FEES
– Cash only
– Regular admission for dancers is $15
– We are a volunteer-run organization on a tight budget – if you’re also on a tight budget, then please pay what you can, even a twoonie – our priority is that you come and dance with us! Conversely, if you can pay more than $15, we appreciate additional donations.
– For family groups, we suggest $15 each for up to 2 adults, and a small donation for each additional adult. Kids dance for free.
THINGS TO BRING:
– Bring a water bottle, we can’t emphasize this enough! You *will* get thirsty.
– Wear flat-soled shoes only – no heels. If it’s mucky out, bring a pair of clean dry shoes if you can. Smooth-soled shoes are the most fun.
– Wear stretchy comfortable clothing and dress in layers — it gets very hot in the dance hall after a few tunes!
– Wear the clothing you feel most comfortable in – we encourage a range of attire – from PJs, to sweatpants, to fancy dress, to full-on costumes!
– Bring cash for admission, we don’t take cards.
– During the colder months, bring a warm layer to start. We open windows and doors for fresh air, but that means it’s cold for the first half-hour.
– We ask you to avoid scented products – some dancers have allergies – but we *do* request deodorant!
– Viruses are still circulating in our community – we welcome folks to wear masks if they wish to.
HEALTH & SAFETY
If you feel unwell and could possibly be contagious with any virus or illness, please do not come to the dance. We have people of all ages at our events, and we truly want to keep everyone safe. Dancing is a higher-risk activity due to the large number of people exerting themselves in a small space. The best way to keep everyone safe is to avoid coming if you could spread sickness to others. Thank you so much for helping us out!
AND – FINALLY – A WORD ON OUR VALUES
– We are a supportive, beginner-welcoming group- we don’t take our dancing too seriously. We encourage you to participate with an open, fun-loving mindset.
– We commit to creating a welcoming and positive space where anyone can dance with anyone else, regardless of gender, age, experience or any other factor.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us any time, at info@halifaxcontra.ca